December 29, 2007

Suicide becoming a big killer

Star: PENANG: In 10 to 15 years time, suicide will take second spot as the highest cause of death in the country after cardiovascular disease.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Prof See Ching Mey said in 2005, there were nine to 12 suicides for every 100,000 people compared to 13 suicides per 100,000 last year.
She said three million Malaysians have mental health problems and 130,000 of them were children.
“This shows that despite the technology and medical advancements that improve our living standards, many are actually feeling worse,” she said in her inaugural professorial lecture yesterday.
Prof See was appointed as a professor in June 2006 and her lecture was in conjunction with the USM School of Education Studies’ Teachers Day Celebration.
“Currently, there are only about 900 counsellors registered under the Board of Counsellors.
“We need more qualified counsellors and physiologists to come forward and contribute their service,” she told a press conference later.
Prof See said each organisation should have at least a counsellor or psychologists.
She suggested all companies to provide counselling services for their employees under the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or Health Service.
When asked about mental health services in Malaysia, she said there was a slight shift from total medication dependence towards psycho-medical treatment recently.
She said while medication is still a must for some of the mental health patients, it is a better approach to help them cope by giving proper counselling.